“All the pieces, including depth pieces, serve a purpose.”

Adding new players is a delicate process.

The Colorado Avalanche knows a thing or two about that this year. While the calendars were still reading the year 2024, they had swapped out their entire goalie tandem. Alexandar Georgiev and Justus Annunen were out, and Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood came in.

Bookmark The Hockey News Colorado Avalanche team site so you never miss the latest news, game day coverage, and information on the Avalanche players.

Further into the season, the Avalanche made many more additions. Brock Nelson, Charlie Coyle, Ryan Lindgren, and Jack Drury were a few of the other players acquired during the season.

With that many new faces on the team, concern arises about upsetting the team chemistry. To the players’ credit, that was not the case.

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A Round One Schedule for the Stanley Cup Playoffs is HereNHL Public Relations announced the full schedule for games 1-4 of round one for the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Thursday morning. Dates for games 5-7 were also announced with times listed as TBD, meaning they will be announced once or if they become necessary.

“We came back with a lot of the same guys,” Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said to the media in a scrum after his team’s Game 1 victory over the Dallas Stars. “We were banged up early in the season. We got a look at our guys going into the season, what we liked and didn’t like.” 

“I feel like as a coach we were really lucky,” Bednar revealed. “We re-vamped the most major parts of our lineup.” 

“The two goalies right away, strength down the middle of the ice when you get Drury, Coyle, and Nelson, added some grit and determination on the backend in Lindgren.”

🗣️Jared Bednar

"I can't say enough about the moves that he [Chris MacFarland] made to re-vamp our team."#GoAvsGo | @gs_off_icepic.twitter.com/86IP0NhZxQ

— Guerilla Sports (@guerillasports_) April 20, 2025

Blackwood performed admirably in the first playoff game of his career. The 28-year-old stopped 23 of 24 shots to backstop the Avalanche to a 5-1 victory in Game 1.

Not bad for his first playoff game.

“It’s never easy winning (in the) regular season, playoffs it gets harder every single round,” Bednar said. “We feel like we have a good team and it’s up to us to go play our best hockey for two weeks at a time, as far as you can possibly go and try to reward the organization for giving us those players.”

“I can’t say enough about the moves that he made to revamp our team.”

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After holding an optional skate on Friday morning, Martin St-Louis held a regular practice on Saturday. While it was scheduled to start at 11:00 a.m., at 10:30, most of the players were already on the ice, ready to get going.

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Former assistant coach Alex Burrows was also present and had a long conversation with Montreal Canadiens’ center Jake Evans. Samuel Montembeault revealed the nature of the conversation in the post-practice media availability. The netminder told us that Burrows had been scouting the Washington Capitals for a few weeks already, paying particular attention to their lethal power play.

Once practice started, St-Louis got everyone’s legs going with three vs. three mini-games on a reduced ice surface. Then there were some passing and shooting drills, but not as complete lines. Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield always worked together, while Ivan Demidov was always with Patrik Laine.

Then, the focus was squarely on the power play. There was no change to the first unit, with Suzuki, Laine, Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Lane Hutson skating together, but much of the focus was on getting Caufield to unleash shots from the bumper position. Asked how he felt about being deployed there, the diminutive sniper answered that it was a work in progress and that it would depend on how Washington deployed its penalty kill.

On Caufield, the coach said:

He’s progressed tremendously from goal line to goal line on both sides; he’s had to score goals differently a little bit this year; you see him more on the inside. I think it’s important for him not to be a perimeter player, having all those touches in space all the time, the game isn’t going to give you that space all the time. I think especially in the playoffs, you must be willing to play inside regardless of whether you're big-bodied or not.

- Martin St-Louis on Cole Caufield.

On the second until, Brendan Gallagher, Alex Newhook, Demidov, and Mike Matheson participated in all the drills while Suzuki and Joel Armia alternated. Time will tell if St-Louis has finally decided not to overwork his captain and give him a bit of downtime. It wouldn’t be a bad idea, and it would allow him to be fresher and play better minutes.

After practice, the members of the penalty killing units were whisked away for a meeting to dissect the Capitals’ power play and its weapon of mass destruction, Alexander Ovechkin. Speaking of the Great Eight, Ivan Demidov explained that he watched him play growing up, but he was more of an Evgeni Malkin fan. The youngster is preparing to play in his second professional playoff tournament in the same season. When he was asked what he thought was different between the postseason and the regular season, he said:

The playoffs are a different game than the regular season, you need like more energy.

- Ivan Demidov on the difference between the regular season and the playoffs.

When asked about his feelings about playing the newly minted best goal scorer in league history, Patrik Laine simply replied, “I couldn’t care less.” Clearly, the Finnish sniper doesn’t feel like too much emphasis should be put on Washington’s captain.

Meanwhile, goaltender Samuel Montembeault is ready to finally make his playoffs debut and is excited about the challenge of facing the Caps.  

It was about time, after eight years, to finally get to play some playoff hockey. I’m really excited to do it with this team and am looking forward to Monday.

-

As for how he stayed cool and collected down the stretch while under much pressure, he explained:

I had some meetings with our sports psychologist here. We spoke about staying in the moment and just focusing on your breathing. When you focus on your breathing, you’re not thinking about what’s going to happen in the future or what happened in the past.

- Samuel Montembeault on how he stays calm. 

You can expect some very physical hockey when the puck drops on the series on Monday night in Washington. Josh Anderson mentioned how hard someone like Tom Wilson would play and added that he would do the same for the Canadiens. Caufield was asked how important it was that Slafkovsky played a physical game, and he said:

That’s how he should play every game. He knows it, it’s just about him making that decision himself and leading the way physically, I’d say.

- Cole Caufield on Juraj Slafkovsky

This is an assessment that most fans will agree with. There was a bit of excitement in the air in Brossard. The players were visibly happy to have reached the postseason, as they should be. The bench boss was also in good spirits, even teasing The Athletic’s Arpon Basu when he had to be called on twice to ask his question. St-Louis smiled and asked if he was in Ferris Bueller, giving everyone a good chuckle.

Heineman and Demidov have good releases #GoHsbsGopic.twitter.com/6t2vxi0Vk4

— Karine Hains (@KarineHains) April 19, 2025

The Canadiens will hold another practice in Brossard on Sunday morning before taking off for Washington to prepare for game one the following day. Game two is scheduled for Wednesday, and the series will move to Montreal on Friday, when the Bell Center should be filled to the brim with overexcited fans.

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Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens. 

Earlier this season, former New Jersey Devils goalie Mackenzie Blackwood was traded to the Colorado Avalanche by the San Jose Sharks. The move was understandable, as the Avalanche desperately needed help between the pipes, while the Sharks were willing to move Blackwood because of his then-pending unrestricted free agent status. 

The decision to acquire Blackwood certainly has benefited the Avalanche. In 37 regular-season appearances with Colorado after the move this campaign, he had a 22-12-3 record, a 2.33 goals-against average, a .913 save percentage, and three shutouts. Due to this impressive play, Blackwood earned a five-year, $26.25 million contract extension with the Avalanche, which kicks in next season.

Now, Blackwood has gotten the playoffs started on the right foot for the Avalanche. In Game 1 against the Dallas Stars, Blackwood stepped up big time, saving 23 out of 24 shots he faced. That equates to an impressive .958 save percentage on the night.

Blackwood made multiple incredible saves in the process and undoubtedly played a significant role in the Avalanche's 5-1 win over Dallas. Now, Blackwood and the Avalanche will look to keep this kind of play up when they face the Stars next for Game 2 on April 21. 

Blackwood was selected by the Devils with the 42nd overall pick of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. In 152 games as a Devil over five seasons, he had a 65-57-18 record, a .906 save percentage, and a 2.97 goals-against average. His time in New Jersey came to an end during the 2023 NHL off-season when he was traded to the Sharks for a sixth-round pick.

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New Jersey Devils Star Entering Playoffs Red-HotWhile Timo Meier's numbers were a bit lower than expected for his standards this campaign, he was still one of the New Jersey Devils' top offensive contributors. In 80 regular-season games, the 6-foot-1 winger finished third on the Devils with 26 goals and fourth on the team with 53 points.  Former Devils Goalie Has Thrived With New TeamDuring this past off-season, former New Jersey Devils goaltender Scott Wedgewood signed a two-year, $3 million contract with the Nashville Predators. This was after the 32-year-old netminder posted a 16-7-5 record, a .899 save percentage, and a 2.85 goals-against average in 32 games with the Dallas Stars in 2023-24. Devils Superstar Has Hit New Level This SeasonAfter missing the playoffs during the 2023-24 season, the New Jersey Devils certainly bounced back this campaign. The Devils finished the 2024-25 campaign with a 42-33-7 record and secured the third-place spot in the Metropolitan Division. Now, they are set to face the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of the post-season, with the series kicking off on April 20.

As the Kings prepare to open up their first round series against the Edmonton Oilers for the fourth straight year on April 21st, one thing will be dramatically different this time around: Darcy Kuemper.

For the first time since the days of franchise legend, Jonathan Quick, the Kings will have a netminder in place that is capable of stealing games or even an entire series with his play. However, in the three previous series with Edmonton, that wasn't the case for the LA Kings.

In the 2021-22 series, LA was backed by future Hall of Famer and all-time winningest American-born goaltender, Jonathan Quick. Although LA would eventually push the Oilers to seven games, Quick did not play at the level of his previous playoff performances. He finished the series with a save percentage of .904 and a goals against average of 3.43, far off his career playoff numbers with the Kings. In 92 career playoff games with Los Angeles, Quick posted a .921 SV% and a 2.26 GAA. Of course, Quick's gold standard took place in 2012 on LA's first Cup run when he dropped a .946% and a microscopic 1.41 GAA. 

On June 11, 2012, the @LAKings were crowned Stanley Cup champions after a 6-1 win over the New Jersey Devils in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. Jonathan Quick was named playoff MVP, and Dustin Brown became the first player in #LAKings history to lift the Stanley Cup.#GoKingsGopic.twitter.com/Qa1lLzvysA

— The Kingstorian (@Kingstorian) June 11, 2024

The post-Quick versions of the Kings-Oilers playoff matchup have seen the Kings try to play around subpar goaltending. Not an ideal situation when facing Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. 

In 2022-23, for example, LA started both Joonas Korpisalo and Pheonix Copley, eventually losing again to the Oilers in six games. Both goalies posted numbers that were well inferior to Quick's. Korpisalo registered a .892 SV% and a GAA of 3.77 and Copley was even worse: .750 SV% and a GAA of 4.26. Not remotely good enough to beat anybody in the playoffs, let alone the Oilers.

Last year's battle with Edmonton would see LA go with Cam Talbot in net. After a very solid regular season campaign, Talbot was unable to elevate his game against the Oilers. Talbot started three games against Edmonton and posted a .861 SV% and a GAA of 5.30, while Dave Rittich had a .872 SV% and a GAA of 2.56. Thus, similar to the previous year's series, neither goalie was capable of stealing a game for the Kings. 

This year, however, could be an entirely different story. Darcy Kuemper is coming off one of the best regular seasons of this career. In addition to a 15-game streak of allowing two goals or fewer, the second longest streak since the NHL expanded in 1967-68, Kuemper finished the year with a stingy 2.02 GAA.

With his 27-save shutout victory, Darcy Kuemper has allowed two or fewer goals in 13 consecutive starts and is just the fifth goaltender in the NHL’s expansion era to accomplish such feat, per @NHLPR. pic.twitter.com/scQ7Itst7Y

— LA Kings PR (@LAKingsPR) April 5, 2025

More importantly, Kuemper has shown an ability to consistently make tough saves, something that could help LA win a game or two that they have no business winning. As per NHL Edge, Kuemper leads the league with a high-danger shot save percentage of .863.  His career playoff numbers are also superior to the goalies from the previous two series. Overall, Kuemper has a career .908 SV% and a GAA of 2.72, including a 9.02 SV% and a 2.57 GAA during Colorado's successful Stanley Cup run in 2021-22.

While many factors come into play in deciding which team eventually wins a seven-game series, the numbers and the eye test show that the LA Kings should feel very confident about playing in front of Darcy Kuemper this year.

If folks have been paying attention to NHL news cycles the past few weeks, young Montreal Canadiens forward prospect Ivan Demidov has garnered quite the buzz.

Although the 19-year-old Russian forward's impressive talent is on display - he had a goal and two points in the two regular-season NHL games he played prior to the Habs' first-round matchup against the Washington Capitals - he made some headlines Saturday because of his words.

During a media availability Saturday morning, Demidov was asked about facing Alex Ovechkin in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Someone followed up by asking if Ovechkin was one of his idols growing up.

His response?

"Probably in NHL," Demidov said. "But I love Malkin much better than Ovi, you know what I mean?"

Yes, Demidov was a big fan of Pittsburgh Penguins future hall-of-fame center Evgeni Malkin, who - along with Ovechkin - is one of the greatest Russian-born players of all-time. 

Habs rookie Ivan Demidov today:

“I love Malkin much better than Ovechkin.” pic.twitter.com/dkHJSscp3g

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) April 19, 2025

Malkin, like Demidov, is known for his playmaking, and the 38-year-old has amassed 514 goals and 1,346 points in 1,213 NHL games. He was infamously omitted from the NHL's 100 Greatest Players Of All Time list in 2017. 

In any case, that's one way for Demidov to spark something before going head-to-head with Ovechkin for the very first time in his NHL career - and in the playoffs, nonetheless. 

You can catch Game 1 between Montreal and Washington on Monday, Apr. 21 at 7:00 p.m. ET. 

Laine Saying He 'Couldn't Care Less' Facing Ovechkin In Playoffs Being Taken The Wrong WayMontreal Canadiens forward Patrik Laine made headlines on Saturday after appearing to downplay facing Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin in the opening round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

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Things were going like they intended it for the St. Louis Blues in Game 1 of the Western Conference First Round on Saturday.

Their special teams were strong, they started the game hitting everything that moved, with a whopping 32 in the first period, and their special teams helped them carry a lead into the final 20 minutes.

But the Blues succumbed in a big way. The Winnipeg Jets scored three times, including Kyle Connor's one-timer with 1:36 remaining to rally for a 5-3 win against the Blues at Canada Life Centre.

The Blues, who trail the best-of-7 series 1-0 with Game 2 on Monday at 6:30 p.m., were 35-2-1 in the regular season when leading after two periods. It was almost automatic they would have the capability to close out a game but couldn't on Saturday.

Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou scored power-play goals, Oskar Sundqvist scored and Jordan Binnington made 21 saves.

Let's look at Saturday's Three Takeaways:

* Horrendous third period -- The Blues are usually good at locking down the third, and coach Jim Montgomery has praised the players for their abilities to do so since the 4 Nations Face-Off break.

Whatever that was on Saturday, this will be a quick series if that same blueprint and way of execution is in play.

Instead of managing the game, the Blues played prevent defense for seemingly 20 minutes, sat back, didn't dictate any play and had just one shot on goal until a meaningless Mathieu Joseph shot on Connor Hellebuyck with seconds remaining.

They had a chance to put a stranglehold on the game with a power play after killing off a Nick Leddy minor to begin the period but Zack Bolduc took an inexplicably bad cross checking minor to negate what was left of it and it seemed the Jets, even through they didn't score on the ensuing power play of their own, fed off the momentum.

"We can’t take that penalty in the playoffs, I do know that," Montgomery said." I thought we killed the penalty pretty good. I can’t say it built momentum for them, but it took us from a situation where I thought we were a little bit in control and then we weren’t."

The Blues managed things until Alex Iafallo tied the game 3-3 when Scheifele took a puck around the net, and was defended well by Thomas, but Cam Fowler jumped into try and defend as well, leaving that side of the ice open. Scheifele's pass hit the side of the net right to an open Iafallo, who deposited a lot shot beyond Binnington's right pad.

Winnipeg goal!

Scored by Alex Iafallo with 10:42 remaining in the 3rd period.

Assisted by Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor.

Winnipeg: 3
St. Louis: 3#STLvsWPG#GoJetsGo#stlbluespic.twitter.com/wzVGOAW8Xv

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) April 20, 2025

The Blues didn't generate any offense because their play with the puck was poor at best. They couldn't string together, forget two passes, they couldn't put one pass together. They kept giving it back in the neutral zone, then had to defend much of the period, getting hemmed in and when they would get it, would give it right back. Then they iced a number of pucks, including Kyrou late that started the sequence that led to Connor's eventual game-winner. Connor had been robbed twice in the game earlier by Binnington.

After Scheifele won the face-off from Thomas, who was 11-for-15, the puck came to the point, Josh Morrissey found Scheifele curling around the net along the left side, a pass to the low circle to Connor for a one-timer and it was 4-3. Adam Lowry iced it with an empty-netter to make it 5-3 at 19:07.

Winnipeg goal!

Scored by Kyle Connor with 01:36 remaining in the 3rd period.

Assisted by Mark Scheifele and Josh Morrissey.

Winnipeg: 4
St. Louis: 3#STLvsWPG#GoJetsGo#stlbluespic.twitter.com/xfd34lCYDY

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) April 20, 2025

It was simply a terrible period for the Blues, one of their worst third periods all season and came at an inopportune time.

 "I didn’t think we managed the game very well in the third period," Montgomery said. "Penalties. Puck management. A little bit of our emotions.

"... I didn’t think our puck management and decision-making was quick enough."   

* Need more from Schenn line offensively -- Brayden Schenn will never be questioned for his physical nature; the Blues captain had a game-high nine hits of the Blues' 53 in the game. But with a line of Schenn, Kyrou and Jimmy Snuggerud, that line had a Corsi-for/Corsi-against of 0-11 in the game.

The Blues will not play beyond Game 4 if they don't get supportive scoring from someone other than the Thomas, Pavel Buchnevich, Jake Neighbours line. Even the fourth line of Radek Faksa, Alexey Toropchenko and Nathan Walker had a Corsi rating of 3-13.

No offense to Snuggerud, playing his first playoff game and eighth NHL game overall, but Saturday was a prime example of the Blues missing Dylan Holloway, who is a big influence in driving that line.

* Special teams did its job -- You can't go wrong when your power-play gets you two goals, like the Blues' did.

And quite frankly, if it wasn't for a lucky bounce off Ryan Suter's stick that gave Scheifele a gift power-play goal himself, the Blues' penalty killers would have been 4-for-4.

But one way to quiet a home crowd as a visiting player is to make the opposition pay with the man advantage.

Thomas made it 1-0 at 9:31 of the first when Cam Fowler kept a puck alive at the point, the second time on a backhand to Thomas, who made no mistake beating Hellebuyck with a wrister high glove.

Power play goal for St. Louis!

Scored by Robert Thomas with 10:29 remaining in the 1st period.

Assisted by Cam Fowler and Pavel Buchnevich.

Winnipeg: 0
St. Louis: 1#STLvsWPG#GoJetsGo#stlbluespic.twitter.com/MJUGEExgAY

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) April 19, 2025

And after Sundqvist tied it 2-2 with the Blues' only even strength goal at 18:10, Kyrou gave the Blues a 3-2 lead at 1:13 of the second period after a puck was worked around from left to the point to Kyrou, who had acres, it seemed, to skate into a wrister of his own and beat Hellebuyck high blocker (sense a theme here?).

St. Louis goal!

Scored by Oskar Sundqvist with 01:50 remaining in the 1st period.

Assisted by Zack Bolduc and Justin Faulk.

Winnipeg: 2
St. Louis: 2#STLvsWPG#GoJetsGo#stlbluespic.twitter.com/stTQvLE91a

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) April 19, 2025

Power play goal for St. Louis!

Scored by Jordan Kyrou with 18:47 remaining in the 2nd period.

Assisted by Justin Faulk and Jake Neighbours.

Winnipeg: 2
St. Louis: 3#STLvsWPG#GoJetsGo#stlbluespic.twitter.com/Q0QAw0rRrC

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) April 19, 2025

The Blues finished 2-for-3 with the man advantage and 3-for-4 on the penalty kill, and on most nights, you're winning those hockey games, playoffs or not. Not this night though.

"I think our special teams, ever since 4 Nations, it's been really good," Sundqvist said. "We just keep working on it. And, it's good to get some goals on the power play and killing some penalties off and then we just get back to work tomorrow and see what we need to do 5-on-5."

* Here's what else Montgomery and players said postgame:

“We played a hard game. Lot of good things to take away from this game for sure. It’s one game at a time and we know that.”

Jordan Binnington and Brayden Schenn after Game 1 in Winnipeg. #stlbluespic.twitter.com/Rw7suoyyQC

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) April 20, 2025

Welcome to the first show of The Hockey News Playoff Frenzy Live, streaming nightly during the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs.

After the big game of the night, our experts go live to react to the match that was, break down the key moments and storylines, provide updates on the rest of the night's NHL slate and read your opinions.

Playoff Frenzy Live - April 19, 2025 | The Hockey NewsWelcome to Playoff Frenzy Live by The Hockey News presented by STIX.com, where we give our live reactions and break down the latest news to all the biggest g...

On tonight's show, Emma Lingan and Michael Augello look at the Winnipeg Jets' comeback victory against the St. Louis Blues in the first game of the playoffs.

Will the shaky start for both goaltenders cause any issues later in the series? How did the battle of the Schenn brothers go down? What's something to follow in the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche series?

Check out the show right now and share your opinions in the live chat and in our comment section.

The Vegas Golden Knights flamed out in the first round of the playoffs last year to the Dallas Stars in large part due to HC Bruce Cassidy’s inability to find the best lines. The blame can’t all be put on him as the Golden Knights were ravaged with injuries and did not have enough time to build chemistry among linemates. 

This season, however, is different. No long-term major injuries have leaked into the playoffs, and Cassidy feels comfortable with what he’s seen from his players. 

Heading into a series against a Minnesota Wild team that ranks 15th in goals allowed per game despite an abundance of injuries, Cassidy will go with what’s brought them success throughout the 2024-25 regular season. 

“Karlsson, Olofsson and Smith have been very good since Karly’s comeback, and we got Smitty through trade, so we don’t have to mess around," said Cassidy. "We’ve got Hertl, Dorofeyev and Saad; they’ve been very good together. Hertl missed a few weeks, but in general, they’ve been healthy. So it’s just Jack and Stoney, and then is it Barbie or Howden." 

"Then we got Roy, Kolesar and Pearson, and we have to decide that, but in general, we’re going to revert back to those lines we had earlier because guys have moved around. I think the positive side to losing guys to injury is that you get to look at guys in a more advanced role, so that can come in handy down the road. That's how we’re going to approach it to start and see how it turns out."

Jack Eichel, Mark Stone and Ivan Barbashev have been a mainstay on the top line, recording 462:00 of ice time together.

Tomas Hertl and Pavel Dorofeyev lead the team in goals and have been complemented nicely by Brandon Saad, who they signed as a free agent after he was cut by the St. Louis Blues. 

Victor Olofsson, who was not known for his defensive game with the Buffalo Sabres, has blossomed this season on that side of the puck and has become the perfect final piece to the formidable duo of William Karlsson and Reilly Smith. 

Smith And Karlsson’s Penalty Killing Pose Additional Offensive Threats For Golden KnightsWilliam Karlsson and Reilly Smith are the Vegas Golden Knights franchise leaders in shorthanded goals and points, and after being reunited at the deadline, they are showing just how dangerous and effective they can be on the penalty kill.

At the moment, Cassidy is unsure about who will be playing on the fourth line. One player out of Nicolas Roy, Brett Howden, Keegan Kolsear and Tanner Pearson will be held out of the Game 1 lineup despite being more than deserving of playing. 

The phrase "it’s a good problem to have" gets thrown around a lot in hockey, mostly when referring to having a plethora of depth options, and no team embodies it more than the Golden Knights. 

With several lineup options to choose from, Cassidy can benefit from being able to switch things quickly when it’s not going the Golden Knights' way and have the trust in his players that they can rely on the chemistry they’ve previously shown. 

The Golden Knights may be the odds-on favourite, but a team rostering Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, Marco Rossi, Joel Erickson-Ek, Mats Zuccarello and Brock Faber will not roll over and let the Golden Knights breeze by. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Golden Knights stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.

Storylines Abound When In Opening Round Series Between Golden Knights And Wild, Including Several Head-To-Head MatchupsLAS VEGAS -- There are storylines aplenty across every NHL Playoff series, and will be as we get closer to the Stanley Cup Final. Which Golden Knights Players Have Contract Implications Heading Into The PlayoffsThe Vegas Golden Knights are heading into the playoffs with an abundance of confidence, winning the Pacific Division and ranking second in the Western Conference. Although most of the team is under contract beyond this season, some are not, and that could bode well for the Golden Knights. 

The vibes were high, the crowd was loud, the colour was white.

And the home team got the win. 

Entering the game with an NHL-best 116 points in 82 games, the Winnipeg Jets came out and took the first game of the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs by a 5-3 final over the eighth-seed St. Louis Blues.

The Saturday night affair was the first scheduled game of the playoffs for any team, and it most certainly did not disappoint.

Kyle Connor scored the winner with just 1:36 remaining off a cross-ice pass from Mark Scheifele, while Connor Hellebuyck turned aside 14 of the 17 shots he faced for his first win of the playoffs. 

A chaotic first period saw four total goals scored, two per team. 

It was an up and down first period for trade deadline acquisition Luke Schenn. He was in the box to see the Blues score the game's opening goal, on a play that left Robert Thomas all alone in the high slot. He didn't miss, and beat Connor Hellebuyck just 39 seconds into the interference minor.

After Scheifele scored a power play goal just moments into a Jake Neighbours slashing call, Schenn set Jaret Anderson-Dolan up for a deflection, leading to Winnipeg's 2-1 lead. His long-range point shot was tipped by both Morgan Barron and Anderson-Dolan, bouncing past Jordan Binnington and into the Blues' net.

But then, Schenn was victimized on a bad bounce later in the period. He blocked a point shot but couldn't corral his rebound. It landed directly on the stick of Oskar Sundqvist, who quickly buried up high, past Hellebuyck, making it 2-2 before the period came to a close.

But before the clock his zeros, Neal Pionk found himself in the box for yet another suspicious call. All three of the first period penalties were questionable at best.

Again, the Blues struck, getting their second of the game shortly into the second. It was Jordan Kyrou who put a perfectly-placed wrist shot through traffic and into the net, making it 3-2 just 1:13 into the middle stanza. 

Kyrou's goal was the difference in the period, with St. Louis holding onto a 3-2 lead through 40 minutes of play. Winnipeg outshot the visitors 10-6 in the frame, pulling ahead to a 17-15 lead entering the third period.

Winnipeg tied things up on a gritty goal from first-line fill-in Alex Iafallo midway through the third. A power move from Scheifele behind the net saw Iafallo grab the puck in close and beat Binnington five-hole. 

Then, with just 1:36 remaining, Connor blasted his first of the postseason into the net - a goal that proved to be the game-winner. Once again, it was Scheifele who picked up the primary assist, helping the Jets to the 4-3 advantage. 

Adam Lowry got the insurance marker, banking a missed Mason Appleton dump in into the empty net, sealing the deal on a Game 1 victory. 

Some minor fisticuffs ensued, but it was the Jets that came out on top 5-3. 

Game 2 goes on Monday night, with the Jets and Blues facing off at 6:30 PM central time. The game will be aired live on Sportsnet. 

The Pittsburgh Penguins just finished their 57th season with a 34-36-12 record, missing the Stanley Cup playoffs for the third consecutive campaign.

Despite the ups and downs of the 82-game schedule, the Penguins finished the year on a positive note, defeating the top team in the Eastern Conference, the Washington Capitals, by a 5-2 score on Thursday, April 17, 2025.

The victory in the season finale extended their record in the final game of the regular season to 30-23-2-2. Meanwhile, thanks to a plus-3 goal differential in that game, the club closed the gap in this statistical category, now just minus-1 in season finales, scoring 197 goals and giving up 198. 

Moreover, after being winless in their last two season finales, the Penguins earned their 12th win of the Sidney Crosby era, which began in the 2005-06 season. Ultimately, under his guidance, Pittsburgh has had its best run in the final regular-season games. 

Let's dive into the numbers. 

In the Beginning (1967-1984)

The Penguins won their first two season finales, defeating the Philadelphia Flyers in 1968 (5-1) and 1969 (2-1). They suffered their first loss to the Minnesota North Stars (5-1) in 1970, followed by their first tie in 1971 against the St. Louis Blues (1-1).

During this time, Pittsburgh compiled four two-year win streaks: 1968-69, followed by 1972-73 and 1981-82, with their best run occurring from 1976 to 1978, when they won three straight. 

25 Fascinating Facts About The NHL In 2005-06, The Last Time The Penguins Had A Losing SeasonWin or lose on Thursday night, the Pittsburgh Penguins (33-35-12) will have their first losing season since the 2005-06 campaign, when the club was 22-46-14.

On the other hand, they also experienced three consecutive streaks of back-to-back losses, in 1970-71, 1974-75, and 1983-84. Meanwhile, during the nine seasons the Penguins qualified for the playoffs, they finished the regular season with a record of 5-4 in those years.

Overall, in the first 17 seasons, Pittsburgh was 9-7-1 in season finales, outscored by opponents 64-54.

Lemieux & Jagr Era (1985-2004)

During one of arguably the greatest eras in franchise history, the Penguins didn't have as much success when Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr were winning scoring titles and Stanley Cups. 

As expected, after having the NHL's worst record in 1983-84, the Penguins lost Lemieux's first season finale in 1985 to the Capitals, 7-3.

However, the club responded by winning their next four final regular season games from 1986 to 1989, including three in overtime against the New York Rangers (1986), Detroit Red Wings (1987), and Hartford Whalers (1989).

After a few years of success, they dropped three straight finales from 1990 to 1992, including back-to-back years when they would go on to win the Stanley Cup in 1991 and 1992. 

Meanwhile, 1993 featured the only tie of the era, as the Penguins battled the New Jersey Devils to a 6-6 tie to end the 1992-93 season, a year in which the franchise established an NHL record with 17 consecutive victories. One year later, in 1994, the team recorded its first shutout in a season finale, blanking the Ottawa Senators 4-0.

The losses continued into the late 1990s, as the Penguins lost their final regular-season games in 1995, 1996, and 1997, before experiencing a winning streak in 1998 and 1999. This was followed by alternating wins and losses until they suffered back-to-back defeats in 2002 and 2003. 

Penguins Achieved A Historic Goal Scoring Milestone in 2024-25, First Time In Crosby's CareerThe Pittsburgh Penguins are no strangers to scoring, having employed some of the game's greatest snipers like Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, Joe Mullen, Mark Recchi, Sidney Crosby, and Evgeni Malkin.

While Lemieux and Jagr wore black and gold, an era stretching from 1984 to 2004, the Penguins finished 9-10-1 in the season finales, going 0-2 in years they would capture the Stanley Cup. Once again, they were outscored during this time, 85-71, and had a 5-6-1 record in years they qualified for the postseason.

Sidney Crosby Era (2006-Present)

The Penguins won the 2005 NHL Draft Lottery and selected Crosby with the top pick. During his first season, Pittsburgh lost its season finale 5-3 to the Toronto Maple Leafs. But that loss would end up being one of the few for Crosby and the Penguins in the past 20 seasons. 

Besides alternating wins and losses to begin the Crosby era, the Penguins would go on to establish a franchise record with five consecutive season finale wins from 2009 to 2013, thanks to victories over the Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders, Atlanta Thrashers, Flyers, and Carolina Hurricanes. 

Only once during Crosby's tenure have the Penguins lost consecutive season finales, which occurred in both Stanley Cup title years, 2016 (Flyers) and 2017 (Rangers). 

Meanwhile, the club won another three straight games from 2020 to 2022 before losing in overtime to the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023 and then to the Islanders in 2024. 

The 2025 season finale victory against the Capitals improved the Penguins' record under Crosby to 12-6-2.

Despite the 2008 club becoming the only one in franchise history to be shut out in a season finale, the 2015, 2018, and 2021 teams recorded shutouts in the final game of the season. Overall, the goal differential during Crosby's tenure is positive at 67-49.

Considering Pittsburgh advanced to the Stanley Cup playoffs from 2007 to 2022, their record in season finales during those seasons was 11-4-1, while they were just 1-2-1 in years they didn't qualify. 

Penguins' Head Coach Sullivan One Of Three Coaches To Accomplish This Historic FeatPittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan is only the 15th head coach in NHL history to win 400 games with a single franchise. Hall of Famer Scotty Bowman is the only person to achieve this feat with two clubs. 

Finally, the Penguins played in the Stanley Cup Final in 2008, 2009, 2016, and 2017. During those campaigns, they wrapped the regular season with a loss, a win, a loss, and a loss. Surprisingly, when Pittsburgh plays in the Final, they are 1-5 in season finales. 

---

Penguins Records vs. Opponents in Season Finales

• Atlanta Flames (1974) 0-1-0 -- 6 GF - 3 GA
• Atlanta Thrashers (2011) 1-0-0 -- 5 GA - 2 GA
• Boston Bruins (1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002) 1-4-0 -- 15 GF - 25 GA
• Buffalo Sabres (1980, 1990, 2015, 2021) 2-2-0 -- 6 GF - 12 GA - 2 SO
• Carolina Hurricanes & Hartford Whalers (1981, 1988, 2001, 2013) 4-0-0 -- 23 GF - 13 GA
• Columbus Blue Jackets (2022, 2023) 1-0-0-1 -- 7 GF - 6 GA
• Cleveland Barons (1978) 1-0-0 -- 3 GF - 2 GA
• Detroit Red Wings (1976, 1977, 1987) 3-0-0 -- 14 GF - 11 GA
• Florida Panthers (1995) 0-1-0 -- 3 GF - 4 GA
• Minnesota North Stars (1970) 0-1-0 -- 1 GF - 5 GA
• Montreal Canadiens (2009) 1-0-0 -- 3 GF - 1 GA
• New Jersey Devils (1983, 1993, 2020) 1-1-1 -- 14 GF - 13 GA
• New York Islanders (1982, 1984, 2010, 2024) 2-2-0 -- 18 GF - 14 GA
• New York Rangers (1986, 1991, 1992, 1999, 2007, 2017, 2019) 3-3-0-1 -- 18 GF - 26 GA
• Ottawa Senators (1994, 2014, 2018) 2-1-0 -- 10 GF - 3 GA - 2 SO
• Philadelphia Flyers (1968, 1969, 1973, 1989, 2008, 2012, 2016) 5-2-0 -- 23 GF - 18 GA
• St. Louis Blues (1971, 1972) 1-0-1 -- 7 GF - 3 GA
• Toronto Maple Leafs (2006) 0-1-0 -- 3 GF - 5 GA
• Washington Capitals (1975, 1979, 1985, 2003, 2004, 2025) 2-4-0 -- 21 GF - 30 GA

Top 10 Winningest Goalies In Penguins History Ft. Greg MillenAccording to records available at NHL.com, there have been 71 goalies to play for the Pittsburgh Penguins, 60 of whom have registered a victory. 

By Anthony Carbone, The Hockey News Intern

Winning the Stanley Cup is the ultimate goal for every NHL player, a symbol of perseverance, skill and, yes, a bit of luck. Yet, despite incredible careers filled with jaw-dropping plays, record-breaking stats and Hall of Fame inductions, some of the greatest players in hockey history never had the chance to lift Lord Stanley’s coveted prize.

Whether due to bad timing, unlucky playoff runs, or simply playing for teams that fell short, these legends have left an undeniable mark on the game without ever experiencing championship glory.

Here’s a look at 10 of the best players to never win a Stanley Cup.

Jarome Iginla

Iginla can lay claim to being the best player to ever wear a Calgary Flames sweater. In 1,554 NHL games, the vast majority with Calgary, he put up an impressive 625 goals and 1,300 points.

Iginla also won several individual awards, including a Ted Lindsay Award, Art Ross Trophy, King Clancy Memorial Trophy, Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award and two Rocket Richard Trophies. The closest he ever came to winning it all was in 2004, when the Flames fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games in the Cup final. 

Marcel Dionne

Dionne remains one of the NHL’s most prolific scorers of all time. In 1,348 games, he produced 731 goals and 1,771 points.

Dionne did most of his damage with the Los Angeles Kings, where he blossomed as a star in the 1970s, winning two Pearson (now Lindsay) Awards, a Lester Patrick Trophy, two Lady Byng Trophies and an Art Ross Trophy. Despite not winning a Stanley Cup, Dionne ranks sixth all-time in NHL points.

Peter Stastny

Scoring 109 points in your rookie year is almost unthinkable, but not for Stastny, who won the Calder Trophy in the 1980-81 season. Over his career, Stastny put up 450 goals and 1,239 points in 977 games.

He's a European hockey icon, as he was one of the best European players to step on the ice in the NHL. He scored a lot of goals but never made the Stanley Cup final. 

Henrik Lundqvist

The first goalie on the list is Lundqvist. He led the New York Rangers to the Stanley Cup final in 2014, losing in five games to the Kings, but that didn't stop him from having a remarkable career.

He’s ranked sixth all-time in goalie wins with 459, posting a career .918 save percentage and 2.43 goals-against average. Not to mention, he won a Vezina Trophy along with a gold medal with Sweden at the 2006 Olympics. Lundqvist also holds the record for most wins as a European-born and trained goalie. 

Pavel Bure

One of the most electrifying players of all time cracks the list, as Bure never won the Stanley Cup, which is hard to believe. In 702 games, he scored 437 goals and 779 points. Bure also scored 60 goals in back-to-back seasons in his second and third years in the NHL.

In 1994, Bure and the Vancouver Canucks pushed their luck to the Cup final, but lost to the Rangers in seven games. It was Bure’s first and only appearance in the Cup final. 

Dale Hawerchuk

Hawerchuk won the Calder Trophy as his only award, but don’t let that fool you. In 1,188 games, Hawerchuk scored 518 goals and 1,409 points. In his career, Hawerchuk also had seven 40-plus goal seasons.

If he were on a better team – his Winnipeg Jets kept running into Wayne Gretzky’s 1980s Edmonton Oilers – maybe he would have won a Stanley Cup.

Eric Lindros

Drafted by the Quebec Nordiques in 1991, Lindros was heralded as ‘The Next One’ when he arrived in the NHL, as he was expected to be a superstar. Playing most of his career for the Philadelphia Flyers, in 760 games, he put up 865 points, including 372 goals. In just his third year, he won the Ted Lindsay Award and Hart Trophy, putting up 70 points in 46 games.

He wasn’t just known for his scoring, he was described as a beast on the ice with his physicality and strength. But injuries and controversy dogged his career, and his lone appearance in the Cup final came in 1997, when Detroit swept his Flyers.

Carey Price 

One of the greatest goalies to play but never hold Lord Stanley’s Cup is Price. He had an amazing career in Montreal, putting up 361 wins with a .917 save percentage and a 2.51 GAA.

The 2014-15 season was the best in his career, as he won the Vezina Trophy, Ted Lindsay Award, Jennings Trophy and, most impressively, the Hart Trophy. Winning the Hart made him one of just eight goalies to win the MVP. Price led his team through the 2020-21 playoffs, going all the way to the Cup final before losing to Tampa Bay in five games.

Joe Thornton

Thornton, the No. 1 overall pick by Boston in the 1997 NHL draft, is the only player to win the Hart and Art Ross Trophies during a season in which he was traded. That happened in 2005-06, when the Bruins dealt him to San Jose.

One of the best passers and playmakers of his era, Thornton led the Sharks to the Cup final in 2016, falling in six games to Pittsburgh. He finished his career with 430 goals and 1,539 points in 1,714 games.

Connor McDavid

Even though his career is not over, McDavid can stake the (rather ignominious) claim of being the greatest player of all-time to never win a Stanley Cup – at least, not yet. He’s only in his 10th season, but he’s the fourth-fastest player ever to reach 1,000 points, doing it in 659 games.

Out of all the players on this list, he has won the most awards, including five Art Ross Trophies, four Ted Lindsay Awards, one Rocket Richard Trophy and three Hart Trophies. He went to the Cup final last season, losing in Game 7 to Florida, but at least he was recognized with the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. McDavid is far from done and is looking to add a Stanley Cup to his already Hall of Fame career.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are no strangers to scoring, having employed some of the game's greatest snipers like Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, Joe Mullen, Mark Recchi, Sidney Crosby, and Evgeni Malkin.

In the 2024-25 season, the Penguins had three 30-goal scorers, led by Rickard Rakell (35), Sidney Crosby (33), and Bryan Rust (31). This season marked the first time in Crosby's 20-year career that he had two other teammates reach the 30-goal plateau. 

Moreover, the last time Pittsburgh had three players score 30 goals or more came in 2000-01 when Lemieux, Jagr, Alex Kovalev, and Robert Lang all reached the milestone.

How Special Was Penguins' Rust's First 30-Goal Season?On Thursday night at PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Bryan Rust finished his first 30-goal season of his career. By netting his 30th and 31st goals, he becomes the 39th player in franchise history to reach 30 goals in a single season while wearing a Penguins sweater. 

Of course, plenty of players have scored 30 goals in the salary cap era, but it was either just Crosby himself, or one other teammate like Jake Guentzel or Malkin. 

Here's a look at the Penguins players who recorded 30 goals or more since the 2005-06 season:

• 2005-06: Crosby (39)

• 2006-07: Crosby (36) & Malkin (33)

• 2007-08: Malkin (47)

• 2008-09: Malkin (35) & Crosby (33)

• 2009-10: Crosby (51)

• 2010-11: Crosby (32)

• 2011-12: Malkin (50) & James Neal (40)

• 2013-14: Crosby (36) & Chris Kunitz (35)

• 2015-16: Crosby (36)

• 2016-17: Crosby (44) & Malkin (33)

• 2017-18: Malkin (42) & Phil Kessel (34)

• 2018-19: Guentzel (40) & Crosby (35)

• 2021-22: Guentzel (40) & Crosby (31)

• 2022-23: Guentzel (36) & Crosby (33)

• 2023-24: Crosby (42)

• 2024-25: Rakell (35), Crosby (33), & Rust (31)

---

The franchise record for most 30-goal scorers in a single season first occurred in 1975-76, when Syl Apps (32), Vic Hadfield (30), Pierre Larouche (53), Lowell MacDonald (30), and Jean Pronovost (52) all scored at least 30 goals. 

Their place atop the charts remained unchallenged until Lemieux and Jagr led the attack during the 1991-92 and 1992-93 seasons. During the club's second Stanley Cup-winning season in 1991-92, the Penguins matched the franchise record when Lemieux (44), Jagr (32), Mullen (42), Recchi (33), and Kevin Stevens (54) all tallied more than 30 goals.

In the following campaign, which saw Pittsburgh establish an NHL record for 17 consecutive victories, Lemieux (69), Jagr (34), Mullen (33), Stevens (55), and Rick Tocchet (48) all had over 30 goals. 

Overall, the Penguins just wrapped up their 57th season and have had at least one player score 30 goals in 46 seasons, or 80.7% of their existence. Those totals break down as follows: five players (three seasons), four players (seven), three players (seven), two players (16), and one player (13). 

25 Fascinating Facts About The NHL In 2005-06, The Last Time The Penguins Had A Losing SeasonWin or lose on Thursday night, the Pittsburgh Penguins (33-35-12) will have their first losing season since the 2005-06 campaign, when the club was 22-46-14.

The NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs are full of storylines and tradition.

The battle for the best trophy in sports has players and teams with lots to prove, others that exceed expectations, series everyone wants to watch, playoff traditions and more.

A group of THN.com contributors shared their thoughts on a handful of questions about the playoffs. The biggest predictions, such as the Stanley Cup champion, conference champions, Conn Smythe Trophy winner and more, can be found by clicking here. Here are more playoff poll answers as the games begin.

1. Which player will be an unlikely playoff hero?

(Don't see the graph? Click here.)

The Colorado Colorado Avalanche's Gabriel Landeskog and veteran left winger Jonathan Drouin leading the pack along with Toronto Maple Leafs left winger Matthew Knies. Landeskog hasn't played since the Avalanche won the Cup in 2022, but he had a trial run in the AHL last week.

2. Which Cup favorite will go out earliest?

(Don't see the graph? Click here.)

After last year’s Cup final appearance, the Edmonton Oilers are disrespected in this area, finishing ahead of second-place Washington Capitals. One of the Dallas Stars or Colorado Avalanche – which are playing each other in Round 1 – is going home early, and more people expect it will be the Stars that lose.

3. Which team will go on a ‘Cinderella’ playoff run?

(Don't see the graph? Click here.)

The Ottawa Senators are playing their first playoff hockey in eight years, and more poll respondents have them on a ‘Cinderella’ run than anyone else. The Los Angeles Kings were a vote behind Ottawa, although they have home-ice advantage against the Oilers. The Sens are in a very competitive division, but L.A. could have a relatively easier road in the comparatively weak Pacific Division. 

4. Which team has the most to prove/lose?

(Don't see the graph? Click here.)

There was a clear consensus in this category, with the Maple Leafs receiving more than seven times as many votes as the Jets received. More people are cynical about Toronto, and given how the Leafs have regularly flamed out, they deserve to have that cynicism around them. Their stakes are sky-high, and everyone knows it.

NHL Playoffs Poll: Predicting The Stanley Cup Final, MVP, Top Scorer, Best Canadian Team And MoreThe NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs are here, and our experts are predicting how it will turn out. 

5. Which player has the most to prove/lose?

(Don't see the graph? Click here.)

The Leafs have the most to prove, and no Leaf has more to prove than star winger and pending UFA Marner. If the Leafs lose early, he could be the first man out. Jets goalie Hellebuyck got the second-most votes here after dropping the ball last year in the playoffs.

6. Which youngster/playoff newbie will have a coming out party?

(Don't see the graph? Click here.)

Canadiens rookie winger Ivan Demidov had a stunning impact this week when he made his NHL debut, posting a goal and two points in his first game. Voters in this category are expecting big things from Demidov in the post-season.

7. Which trade deadline acquisition will have the biggest impact?

(Don't see the graph? Click here.)

As someone traded twice this season, Mikko Rantanen clearly has big fans in NHL executive circles. After recording at less than a point-per-game pace with the Carolina Hurricanes, the Finnish right winger and Cup winner had 18 points in 20 games with the Stars to finish the season.

8. Which first-round series are you most hyped about?

(Don't see the graph? Click here.)

The Avalanche or Stars could go all the way this season, making this series a powerhouse showdown. Rantanen playing against the team that drafted and developed him is a major storyline in the first round. In second place is the Battle of Ontario between the Leafs and Sens, who face each other in the playoffs for the first time since 2003-04. The Battle of Florida between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers is also highly anticipated here. 

9. Which player do you want to see win a Cup for the first time?

(Don't see the graph? Click here.)

Edmonton’s Connor McDavid narrowly missed out on his first Cup win last season, and getting one would be massive for his legacy. It’s intriguing that voters have Tavares in second place, as Tavares’ teammates Marner and Matthews didn’t land a single vote here. But it’s no shock Canes D-man Burns finished third, as he’s a lovable, gap-toothed figure fans and media always gravitate to.

10. What’s your favorite playoff tradition?

(Don't see the graph? Click here.)

The Jets have become famous for their home fans dressing in white, and that whiteout tradition continues as the playoffs begin Saturday. Not far behind is the time-honored tradition of shaking hands at the end of series – and slightly behind handshakes is the tradition of playoff beards.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

The Edmonton Oilers and the Los Angeles Kings collide in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the fourth year in a row. What began two decades ago as a conflict of the Western Conference titans has evolved into one of the most intense and compelling rivalries in the NHL. 

CONFIRMED ✅

Round One Schedule is here 📲 https://t.co/GBuBWqCo9w#GoKingsGopic.twitter.com/Jsh2OQgqSH

— x - LA Kings (@LAKings) April 17, 2025

With the 2025 first-round series now booked, the Kings are looking for payback following three consecutive first-round exits by Connor McDavid and the Oilers. But to appreciate the stakes of this series, you need to know the history—a legacy that began during the Wayne Gretzky era.

The Gretzky Years: Birth of a Rivalry 

In the early 1980s, the Oilers were a dominant team, boasting superstars like Gretzky, Mark Messier, Jari Kurri, and Paul Coffey. The Kings, meanwhile, were seen mainly as underdogs—until 1982, when they posted one of the greatest upsets in NHL history, known as the "Miracle on Manchester."

In Game 3 of their best-of-five series, the Kings overcame a 5-0 third-period deficit to defeat the Oilers 6-5 in overtime, eventually taking the series in five games. 

But that was just the beginning. When the Kings acquired Wayne Gretzky in a blockbuster trade in 1988, the rivalry intensified. Los Angeles became an overnight hockey town, and the two teams would meet again in the playoffs four times over the next five years. 

From 1989 to 1992, the Oilers defeated the Kings in three of their four playoff meetings, including a seven-game series that proved back-breaking in 1989. Despite the presence of the trio of superstars Gretzky, Luc Robitaille, and Rob Blake, the Kings never quite managed to surpass their northern rivals.

A Sleeping Rivalry Awakens 

After the early 1990s, the playoff wars between the Kings and Oilers became dormant. There was a time when each franchise went into rebuild phases, and the fiercely contested playoff matches were nothing more than a forgotten memory. This all came to an end in 2022, as modern-day incarnations of the Kings and Oilers eventually met for the first time in the first round of the playoffs.

That set a new benchmark. The Kings, a ravenous young group that included veteran players like Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty, pushed high-scoring Oilers to seven games. Although the Kings lost to Edmonton, the series showed the city of Los Angeles was again on the roster.

They reunited again in 2023. The Kings began quickly this time, taking a 2-1 series lead, but were unable to keep McDavid and Leon Draisaitl at bay, as they combined for 21 points between them in six games. The Oilers wrapped up the series in six.

By 2024, the tale was starting to sting. The Kings were again outclassed in the first round, beaten in five games by an Oilers squad that was purring along at full throttle. Even after beefing up their depth and defense, the result remained the same.

2025: The Kings' Best Opportunity Yet?

This year has a different tone to it than any other year these two teams have met. The Kings won a franchise record 31 games at home this season and secured home-ice advantage over Edmonton for the first time in this four-year cycle. Their goalie tandem of Darcy Kuemper and David Rittich has given them quality work down the stretch, and Kevin Fiala just completed a career-high 35-goal season.

NHL Hall of Famer and Kings President Luc Robitaille thinks @LAKings have a great shot to win the Stanley Cup this year.

I sit down for an excellent 1-on-1 as we go deep into his first impression of L.A. & legacy as a Top 100 player in NHL History.

Full Interview:… pic.twitter.com/YEwL1TWIUQ

— L.A. in a Minute (@LaInaMinute) April 18, 2025

Most significantly, Los Angeles enters this series with a balanced roster. While the Oilers still have otherworldly offense in McDavid and Draisaitl, the Kings counter with a deeper bottom six, an improved defensive setup, and a higher level of desperation.

Quinton Byfield has established himself as a two-way presence, and young stars like Trevor Moore and Alex Laferriere have given the Kings valuable secondary scoring. Drew Doughty patrolling the blue line and Kopitar still playing elite hockey well into his late 30s, L.A. may possess the right mix to dethrone the Oilers.

X-Factors and Legacy

This series will hinge on X-factors. Goaltending will be a massive concern: if Kuemper can match Skinner save for save, the Kings can ride in every game. Fiala's clutch ability to score in pressure situations might tip the tide. And Byfield's defensive role—especially if called upon to shadow McDavid—will be critical.

Again, if the Kings can do precisely what they did in the regular season, especially with home–ice advantage in this series, they will be tough to beat. It all comes down to being consistent for the Kings, which is something they’ve lacked over the last few seasons against this team. However, only time will tell if they can flip that script starting Monday night. 

From a legacy standpoint, this season could redefine the Kings' DNA. Another postseason flameout would raise challenging questions about the long-term future of this team. But a breakthrough win over Edmonton could mark the beginning of a larger playoff run—and the end to the Oilers' psychological advantage over them. 

Heck of a regular season...

and we're just getting started 📈

— x - LA Kings (@LAKings) April 19, 2025

Final Word

With the puck being dropped on Kings-Oilers Round IV, history cannot be evaded. From the Miracle on Manchester to the present-day showdowns between McDavid and Kopitar, this has been a rivalry that has always been dramatic. And with there being more on the line than ever, the 2025 edition may be the most significant chapter yet written.

It is not about getting over it for the Kings. It is about rewriting history.

The Toronto Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup In EA SPORTS' NHL 25 official simulation of the 2024-25 NHL Playoffs. 

The simulation predicts Toronto to beat the Ottawa Senators 4-2 in round one, the Florida Panthers 4-2 in round two, and sweep the Montreal Canadiens in four games in the Eastern Conference Finals before beating the Colorado Avalanche in seven games in the Stanley Cup Final. 

EA SPORTS accurately predicted Team Canada to win the 4 Nations Face-Off, even predicting Connor McDavid to score in overtime against Team USA in the final. 

Get the parade ready, Toronto 🔵⚪

Introducing the #NHL25 Playoff Simulation for the #StanleyCup 🏆 #LeafsForeverpic.twitter.com/v7xnFmdZqH

— EA SPORTS NHL (@EASPORTSNHL) April 19, 2025

The simulation has the Canadiens beating both the Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes 4-1 to advance to the Eastern Conference Final.  

The Avalanche defeat the Dallas Stars and Winnipeg Jets 4-1 before beating the Vegas Golden Knights in seven games to reach the Cup Final. 

Check out new HUT Content, Week 3 Team of the Season and brand new Playoff Fantasy Hockey cards. 

For more NHL 25 news make sure you bookmark The Hockey News Gaming Site or follow our Google News Feed. For gaming discussion check out our forum.